Reo Hatate has reportedly asked for contract talks with Celtic to be halted.
The Japanese midfielder's representatives have been in discussions with Parkhead chiefs over an extended deal in Glasgow.
Reports had suggested a contract offer had been knocked back by Hatate but Celtic chiefs remained hopeful of an agreement being reached.
Now, the Daily Mail reports that Hatate has asked for negotiations to be paused until the transfer window has ended.
It's claimed Hatate is "reluctant to rush anything" until he is aware of all of the options available to him.
However, sources suggest the player could still commit to new terms at Celtic despite the initial rejection and halted negotiations.
Tottenham and Brighton were previously credited with an interest in Hatate, as well as rumoured transfer possibilities in Saudi Arabia.
The report states a move to England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain would be appealing to Hatate but finances - including those in Saudi - won't solely determine Hatate's future.
It's thought Celtic are determined to sign Hatate to an extended deal past 2026, with talks with Liel Abada also a priority.
It comes after Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda signed new contracts at Parkhead.
Earlier this month, Brendan Rodgers challenged Hatate to prove his worth after he took over at the club.
“I’ve mentioned before, it’s not in my contract to play any player,” said Rodgers. “Reo’s got three years left on his contract so there’s no rush. It’s a new cycle, a new manager and he has to prove himself.
“I’m not really worried about what’s said or not, I’ll play the team I see with the best energy, mentality and efficiency with how we want to work.
“There’s no doubt Reo is a talented player, but there’s other talented players in the squad. If players aren’t playing, I’ve been open and honest with them about where we’re at, how I prepare a team, when I tell them the team, and when they’re not playing how they’ve got to respond.
“Reo’s been really good in training. He didn’t play but he came into the game.
“He knows areas he needs to work on to play for me, and the structure of how I work. He’s responded really well in training and will absolutely be a player we need over the course of the season.
“You’re picking the best team, not the best players. And assessing everything.
“Over the course of pre-season David did really, really well. But the challenge for him now is consistency and appetite every single day he’s here.
“His standard of performance cannot drop. When you’re at a top club there is always someone looking to take your place.”
